The Manitoba government and Grace Hospital Foundation will invest in enhanced and modernized diagnostic services at Grace Hospital as part of a capital project that will improve patient flow and access to care at the hospital.

“Our government is committed to ensuring patients get the right care, sooner, including efforts to ensure Manitobans have easier access to the care they need,” said Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen. “This capital project will allow for more timely care of patients by expanding diagnostic imaging services, ensuring the Grace Hospital is equipped to fulfill its role as one of Winnipeg’s three acute hospitals.”

The project will include renovation of space to improve patient flow and staff efficiency as well as the addition of several new pieces of equipment that will both modernize and enhance the diagnostic services available at the site. These improvements include:

  • relocation of cardiac testing and some ultrasound services to create a centralized location for all diagnostic imaging services, to improve patient care and staff workflow;
  • a new state-of-the-art gamma camera used to in nuclear medicine for the diagnosis of a range of illnesses;
  • a second CT scanner to eliminate unplanned downtime which can require emergent patients to be transferred to other sites for CT imaging, as well as upgrades to the site’s existing CT scanner; and
  • a new fully digital X-ray machine to speed up access to high-resolution imaging.

In addition to the Manitoba government’s commitment to the project, the Grace Hospital Foundation will support the renovation with a capital campaign.

“Improving the services available to patients who receive care at Grace Hospital is our driving motivation at the foundation,” said Jon Einarson, executive director, Grace Hospital Foundation. “We are pleased to be able to support this exciting project which will see improved patient care, increased access to vital diagnostic services and a better work environment for hospital staff.”

The project will bring together a number of services that are currently located in different areas of the hospital, with construction to be completed in phases to ensure minimal impact to patient care and continued availability of diagnostic services.

“This investment will position the site to meet the diagnostic needs of the patients it sees as one of Winnipeg’s three acute hospitals and emergency departments,” said Petr Kresta, chief operating officer, diagnostic services, Shared Health.

The project, which follows the opening of the Grace Hospital’s new, $43.8-million emergency department in 2018, is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2021, the minister added.